After taking back operations of animal control at the beginning of the year, Jersey City is now extending its services to Hudson County neighbors near and far.
The city is planning to provide animal shelter and control services for Hoboken and Guttenberg throughout the year. The contracts — $100,000 for Hoboken and $11,000 for Guttenberg — are up for City Council approval Wednesday.
“Jersey City will serve as a backup shelter for Guttenberg and will continue to provide services in Hoboken as has been done (since the start of the year),” said Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione. “With the funds, Health and Human Services can add staff to support these services and more.”
Jersey City has already been working with the two towns on animal services since they began the new year without a provider, city Chief Animal Control Officer Mark Byrnes said at Monday’s caucus meeting. He later assured council members that the city would not have entered into the contracts if it was experiencing capacity at its shelter.
The city took control of animal control services and the shelter near Liberty Science Center after severing ties with Liberty Humane Society, its longtime provider. Hoboken had also contracted with Liberty Humane Society for animal services, while Guttenberg had contracted the West New York-based New Jersey Humane Society.
According to the contracts, Jersey City will transport animals impounded in Hoboken or Guttenberg to the city’s shelter, provide veterinary care and shelter animals suffering from animal cruelty.
Jersey City will also provide Hoboken emergency service for strays or abandoned animals, emergency response assistance for its police and fire departments and support for its dog licensing program.
Guttenberg Mayor Wayne Zitt said Tuesday that the town decided to choose Jersey City for animal services because it was cheaper than contracting New Jersey Humane Society and it hasn’t had many calls for distraught or wild animals. “(It’s an) exciting new venture and hopefully it works out,” he said.
Hoboken spokeswoman Marilyn Baer said Hoboken has outsourced animal control and shelter services “for a number of years as it negates the need to hire and train additional staff and find and operate a shelter while providing residents with quality service.”
Jersey City’s deal with Guttenberg includes providing service for East Newark, since Guttenberg and East Newark had a prior agreement. East Newark Mayor Dina Grilo did not respond to a request for comment on the contract.
Byrnes said the city administration is also looking to implement a low-cost spay and neuter clinic “as soon as possible,” citing a surge in animal breeding in Jersey City.
Jersey City is currently offering adoptions at the shelter for $24 through April 28, with 41 dogs and 14 cats currently housed there. All animals will be vaccinated, spayed/neutered and microchipped. More details can be found at www.jerseycitynj.gov/cityhall/health/divisionofanimalcarecontrol/adoptfoster.
